World takes notice of All Whites
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All Whites
The unlikely success of the All Whites continues to capture the hearts and minds of the world media, with praise being heaped on the tournament's plucky minnows.
The Kiwis appear to have absolved all previously-held doubts about them not deserving a place at the sport's showpiece, holding the current world champions to a one-all draw overnight.
While also criticising the performance of the Italians, ranked 73 places above New Zealand, media outlets have heaped praise on Ryan Nelsen and his troops.
The UK's Guardian website called the draw the "feelgood hit of the summer".
"Extraordinary stuff. They put in such a resourceful display, and were led sensationally by the brilliant Ryan Nelsen."
Italy's "minnowphobia" continued: "But today is all about New Zealand, who have infused this World Cup with the sort of innocent, everyman charm that was seemingly lost to top-level football."
In England, The Telegraph's correspondent Rory Smith waxed lyrical:
"All over the glistening, ultra-modern Mbombela Stadium, patches of white whirled, New Zealand shirts stripped from chests and held aloft in defiance and delight. The team that came as cannon fodder had just detonated Italy's World Cup hopes.
"The reigning champions, of course, can still qualify for the last 16 with victory in their final game against Slovakia. They most likely will. But any pretence Marcello Lippi and his side had of retaining their trophy was exposed as folly by the team from the ultimate backwater, the proverbial team of part-timers and no-hopers ....
"There was nothing lucky about this point, though, for New Zealand, standard-bearers of the smaller nations. They qualified by beating the likes of Vanuatu ... but any doubts that they might not have deserved their place can be cast aside."
According to the Observer, the All Whites defended "like giants".
Italy were "uninspired and unable to break down dogged defending even with a mountain of possession", but "that should detract in any way from what was unquestionably New Zealand football's finest hour".
The current world champions dominated the match but in the end they "huffed and puffed but could not do enough to win".
The Observer criticised the Italian centre-halves for "collapsing as if poleaxed every time they were involved in an aerial challenge, Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini reacting as if allergic to some fairly innocuous contact with Plymouth's Rory Fallon".
The Independent conceded Italy's overall dominance but "outstanding" goalkeeper Mark Paston kept the All Whites in it.
The draw led the USA's Sports Illustrated website which reported that neither goal should have stood but pointed out that Italy, in spite of having the supposed easiest draw of any footballing superpower, had failed to live up to their billing.
It criticised Italy's theatrics, in particular those of captain Fabio Cannavaro as an "embarrassment".
"Every World Cup needs underdogs, and there is none more appealing than the Kiwis. So pray for Slovakia to pull the upset and send Italy home where they belong."
Other outlets were less forthcoming in their praise, though they recognised the guts of the All Whites.
The Financial Times called the All Whites "a dogged but technically average New Zealand team".
The draw would not go down well with Italian fans and media who were "likely to inflict the same mauling on the misfiring Azzuri that the English and French media have handed down to their teams", it said.
Italian media were full of backhanded compliments, with La Gazzetta calling the All Whites "a team of excellent athletes, but mediocre footballers".
Smeltz's early goal "seemed like a nightmare, but it wasn't: Italy was losing."
"Despite an immediate reaction, Italy was not able to turn things right: New Zealand played long balls to their giant forwards, the Italians suffered physically, while their opponents helped their cause often using their elbows.
"It was Italy's mistake to respond with similar tactics, with long passes to Gilardino, who was repeatedly beaten to the ball by Herbert's centre-backs, who aren't exactly lightening fast."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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marty #107
Give up on your crusade, Marty. It's becoming sad.
@marty #107 - You might have watched three but you've seen nothing or don't understand the game.
marty #107 You're kidding right. How can you say rugby is more exciting than football, for 79 minutes of the game you are sitting in your seat watching a bunch of professionals play like amatuers, consistantly dropping the ball, giving away stupid penalties. Surely you would know the rules by now, surely being able to catch a ball would be a pre-requisite for rugby. What amazes me is that rugby fans only get excited about goals in football, but how is that different from a try in rugby, you need to appreciate the skill that goes into the build up of a goal, not just the actual putting the ball in the net. They are consistantely comparing apples with oranges, no wonder they get a different taste. Next time you watch a game, look for more than a goal, look for a player running at a defender, look for a flowwing passing move, look at the amazing ball control showed by almost every player at the world cup.
just watched portugal v nth - korea not bad game .. have watched 3 world cups so far....give me old boring rugby or even netball any day...even the awhites take dives.shameful... bring on the rwc. no horns, no ,dives,a true exciting game
RE: Marianne #105
OKAY MARIANNE GOOD IDEA.
COME ON PEOPLE LETS MAKE THURSDAY A WHITE OUT DAY TO SUPPORT OUR ALL WHITES IN THERE LAST POOL MATCH GAME ON FRIDAY MORNING. GOOD LUCK GUYS WAT U GUYS HAVE DONE SO FAR U HAVE MADE NEW ZEALAND PROUD
Great for the All Whites and come on NZ! But that piece of writing was utter rubbish and verging on propaganda. I lost count of the cliches and the NZ-as-giant-killer angle is a popular fantasy that gets trotted out when things go slightly better than planned at sporting events. Come on, you can write better than this.
Am so proud of the not only the game result but how we played it. Ricky Herbert's boys played it straight and proud. We looked better because we played with a moral compass that the Italians seemed to have lost. Better yet we played it with pride in having a team of amataurs & professionals working together.
Top result.
Good work NZ HARTS and PASSION. We put our feet in NZ trap and this is the result.Now you have a little chance play again versus Paraguay nothing is impossible Yes NZ can. good luck
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Which two teams do you think will go through to the final?
NZ's U20 rugby team retained the World Cup for the 3rd year in a row......http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/3839624/NZs-Baby-Blacks-retain-junior-world-rugby-title.
Job well done.